Of course, if you are new to owning a cat, the idea of your precious bundle being out of your sight for a few minutes can be distressing, let alone an entire day. Carry on reading to find about everything your feline, including:
- How long do cats go missing for?
- Why do they go missing?
- What can be done to find a lost cat?
- How to prevent cats from getting lost
How Long Do Cats Go Missing For?
It isn't uncommon for cats to go missing for 24 hours, especially if they like spending a lot of time outdoors. In some cases, cats can even stay away from home for up to 10 days at a time. We also know of cats that leave home while their humans are away on holiday, returning soon after the family arrives back. And in some instances, cats that have been missing for years have eventually been reunited with their owners.
Why Do Cats Go Missing?Understanding why they go missing could help you prevent it from happening to your cat. Let's take a look at the three most common reasons cats go missing.
1. Unneutered cats can get lost while looking for a mate
One of the most common reasons unneutered male cats leave their home is to find a mate. Some cats might only have to wander around the neighbourhood before they pick up the scent of a female cat in heat, while others will travel for miles and miles.
Unfortunately, if the object of a cat's desires is locked inside a house, the male will simply wait it out until an opportunity presents itself. This means your cat could be gone for a day or two, or even as long as a week. And it isn't just male cats that go missing in pursuit of a mate. Unspayed females, although they won't travel as far, will also go looking for a mate when they are in heat.
One of the most effective ways to stop this from happening is to have your cat neutered or spayed. Not only will this simple procedure stop your cat wandering off in search of love, but it will also help prevent unwanted litters.
2. Cats go missing when their environments change
Cats are sensitive to change in their environment and are known to go missing when a new baby or pet makes an unexpected appearance. To stop your kitty feeling unloved or neglected, it is a good idea to prepare it for upcoming changes where possible.
Make sure your cat is always well looked after with access to fresh water, tasty food and a clean litter box. And if you are unable to provide it with the attention it is used to, ensure there is plenty of mental and physical stimulation. Not even indoor cats are immune to going missing if they no longer feel like they are the cat's whiskers.
3. Cats go missing when they are scared
While a cat's lightning fast reflexes often get it out of dangerous situations, they can also get it into them. When your cat is suddenly startled, it will leap into the air and run away as fast as it can. Unfortunately in its attempt to get away from whatever startled it, your cat can become disoriented.
Older cats will usually find their way home, even after a day or two, but kittens or less streetwise cats could get lost. If you are worried about your cat going missing, you should consider getting a cat GPS tracker. These nifty little gadgets will give you peace of mind and keep track of your cat when he is outdoors.
What To Do When Your Cat Goes Missing
It is not unusual for cats to go missing for a few hours a day, especially if they enjoy being outside. But if you notice your cat is gone longer than normal, there are a few things you can do to ensure its safe return.
Do a thorough search
Before you panic, it is best to do a thorough search around your house, your garden and your cat's favourite hiding spots. Be sure to check inside garages, sheds, as well as your neighbours' properties. And don't forget bins, gutters, under hedges, and compost bins. Cats are notorious for finding the best places to hide, so grab a torch (if it is dark), some tasty treats and start thinking like a cat.
Try and remember your cat's past behaviour. Did it go missing round about the same time last year? The warmer weather during spring and summer often has cats wandering off for longer stretches at a time. Or it could be that your kitten is feeling confident to travel a little further than usual.
Let other people know
Once you have searched high, low, and anywhere in between and your cat is still missing, it is time to let other people and organisations know. Post a recent photograph on the different social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. Take advantage of pages that have been set up specifically to help find missing cats, such as Cat Aware and Missing Pets GB. Remember to include a full description with their age, name and last known whereabouts, as well as any distinguishable features that will make it easier to identify your cat.
You can also further your search by creating a missing pet flyer and check with local shelters, your vet, and community forums. If your cat has been missing for a few days, it is worth asking boarding kennels in your area. There are also some great lost and found websites that have reunited lost cats with their owners.
Leave food and water outside your door
It is a good idea to leave some food, water, your cat's favourite treats and even its toy outside overnight. A scared cat will often make its way back home after dark when there are fewer people and less traffic around. If you have a baby monitor, you could place this near the bowl of food to pick up meowing sounds.
Check old addresses
It is not uncommon for cats to go missing in search of their old home, so if you have recently moved, ask your previous neighbours to keep an eye out for your cat. And if you have rehomed or adopted a cat, check with those owners too. It isn't uncommon for cats to travel many miles to their old address.
What You Can Do To Keep Your Cat From Getting Lost
There really is nothing more distressing than when your cat goes missing or is lost. And even if you think it will never happen to your kitty, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure yours doesn't end up on a lost or found poster.
Microchip your cat
Although it is not a legal prerequisite in the UK to microchip your cat, we suggest you do it as soon as possible. June is National Microchip Month, so it is the perfect time to get it done. And remember if any of your contact details have changed, you need to update these with your microchip database.
Use a collar with a name tag
Because not everyone knows about microchips, a collar with your cat's name and your contact details is essential. Not only does a collar help identify your pet, but it also stops people thinking it is a stray. Make sure your contact details are on the tag, as well as on the inside of the collar.
Make sure your cat is neutered or spayed
As we have mentioned before, unneutered cats will travel long distances if they pick up the scent of a female in heat. To prevent this from happening, you must have your cat neutered (or spayed) as soon as possible. Not only will this stop it roaming the streets, but it will also prevent unwanted litters.
Provide your cat with plenty of stimulation
Cats are intelligent creatures and need plenty of physical and mental stimulation. Make sure you spend quality time with your kitty every day and set up activity areas in your home. Scratching posts, hammocks and lots of toys will stop your cat wandering off in search of excitement. Also, establish a set routine for mealtimes so that your cat doesn't feel the need to hunt for dinner.
Don't leave your cat out overnight
Even the most street smart cats need to feel secure when it gets dark. Make sure you bring your cat in if you are away for the day and at night. Knowing your cat is safely indoors will give you peace of mind, and keep your cat safe. This is especially important during heavy rainstorms or annual celebrations such as Guy Fawkes when your cat can become disoriented.
Let us know if you found this article helpful? Perhaps your cat has gone missing before, and there was a happy ending to the 'tale'? We would love to hear about it, so feel free to share in the comments below.
40 comments
I have seven cats. Five cats live with me, other two visits everyday sometime in two three days gap. I got one cat last year in a mosque and interestingly it was adopted by then mothercat Guddi. We named him " Stranger". After one year, the adopted cat which we thought was a male cat gave birth to two kittens. After the kitten was born, the other cat was chased away by Stranger. White Paw, with whom Stranger was grown, was bitten by her (Stranger) and after that day White Paw stopped coming to take food. We are worried about her. She was very much responsive and adorable pet we’hd. We informed our neighbors but still we’ve not been able to track her.
Hopefully by now Frisco has returned back to his home. Most indoor/outdoor cats know where there home is so if by now he never returned it’s usually the top Predator of cats a two legged animal called man. Most ppl don’t realize Fear Thy Neighbors like in my gated subdivision trap/kill pets that stray on their property with Humane Society that failed to arrest the cat killer who bragged at the HOA Meeting he killed 30+ pets (all felines) then killed seven more including my two kitties. Now five days later FoXy is MISSING so I have lit’l faith he’ll return since I believe they trapped him then ended his life on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kona. Not what I expected frm paradise but the reality is most despise cats and do their best to harm/kill our pets.
My kitten I hand fed as a baby is 8 1/3 mo. Old and has been gone for over 3 1/2 weeks. I posted social media around the area near Lake Lanier in Buford Ga. And put up posters and flyers and I still haven’t found him. Lots of people are calling me and looking he is micro chipped but please pray my baby is found . Nan in Buford, Ga.
My boy is missing an hes not fix I moved in with my sister sometime last year an my cat has always come back but lately haven’t seen him or heard him so I’m starting to worry his names Lucifer hes an all black Bombay cat
My advice is the same as most above. Do not give up. My cat went missing around Halloween years ago. I put up flyrers with his picture covering half the page and wrote, “I’m lost & I want to go home. Please call my mom!” with my name and phone number. First I posted them within a several block radius. But after a couple of day I went for broke, printed up hundreds a nd posted them up to a mile in every direction. At night I went ouut with a stack of flyers and handed them to anyone I passed on the streets, engaging them so to get them to take a good look at the photo.
Seventeen days later, and after a couple of mistaken idrntity calls, I got the call that returned him to me. He lhad ost weight, for sure, and had a few scratches, but otherwise he was okay.
Ultimately it was the flyers that worked. He ended up being further away that I had posted them. But a friend of the family who had kindly taken him in saw one of my flyers and took it to them. They called me right away.
Just going out looking is not enough. You have to find a way to make your loss known to others and for them to recognize you beloved pet when they see him/her.
Good luck to all of you. My heart goes out to you.
I know that’s just how feel it’s been tw and half weeks and our cat has not returned home.God only knows what’s happened to him.
Really want him back.
My cat left by my sons bathroom window while I moved house. Notices all over including vets. 7 months later a ph call and woman said I’m feeding you cat every 2-3 night.
Next suburb and over a tram line. I went calling an on 2nd night I found him. Still here after 11 years. I was overjoyed.
Hi, i came across this googling.
my cat colby a 1.5 year old orange male tabby (bonded with his sister) left my apartment at 1am in phoenix april 21st. he was returned to me november 27th. Over SEVEN! months has gone by. Was found like maybe 900 feet from my
Old front door. i never stopped checking all the face book groups and missing pets sites. i was randomly scrolling and i could not BELEIVE it. he lost ALOT of weight but seems
To be ok (besides his sister and his bonded relationship) do not give up hope SERIOUSLY im still in absolute SHOCK hes back with me AFTER i had moved. Hes still out there. they get lost because they are scared
Hello Genay, Greetings from Switzerland,
My name is Valentin Lopez, I have read your feeligs and worries about your lost Prince,I know exactly what you mean. For I am also missing my Chalupa since the 23 of September, i have put posters everywhere in this village and around the close ones, Chalupa was adopted ( along with her brother Nacho and her little sister Yuka) from the animal rescue shelter. They are only a year and 2 months onld, they are also House Cats ONLY never been outside, I have a pretty big house with a huge Balkon, but one day i was running late for work and i left the Cellar open and she found a window where I think she squeezed out. I actually believe that she might have gotten attack by other cats that belong to the neighbors but they are always outside,cats are territorial, so iI think she had no other choice but to run disoriented.I have spend days and nights looking for my Baby but no sign of her,in Switzerland is very rare that someone would keep an animal which is not theirs, to be more clear; nobody takes something which is not theirs.
Anyway,I am loosing hope,and since she is so young( BUT NEUTERED) I think she will not find her way back home herself,therefore I will not give up searching for her, because Nacho is really loosing his mind, he misses her all 24 hours. Unless i find a body i will not stop looking, is breaking my heart to see her brother and sister falling to pieces( including myself) as the days go by. I honestly hope that you have found your Prince and live in happines again. With much respect, Valentin Lopez
Please pray for my cat, Jolly. He has been missing for 4 days. My family have been looking all over and we even told our neighbors. We are hoping for him to come home and that he’s safe and nothing bad happened to him. ??
Frisco is going on three days. I have called out to him and searched the neighborhood. He never stays gone more than an evening. He notices my car when I come home from work. What distinguishes him from other orange and beige cats is his tail. His tail is very fluffy and he knows his name. I hope he is not hurt or have been run over. He has a red bracelet with his name on it. He is very well trained, so I wandering if a big animal have gotten hold to him. This is the third day.
I’m sorry to hear about this :( Have you found him yet?
There is a lady near where I live on the next-door app who is kind of a cat expert and she says that usually they are within three or four houses away from you and they’re basically just scared in the bushes. Mine ran away about five nights ago so I am in the same boat you are I feel your pain. I’ll pray that your cat comes home. These are our babies. Our family. I’m feeding five ferals right now so I gotta close. Good luck C
I just lost my cat Het name is Angle I had her for 8 years she is a indoor cat she ran away the same day I had to put Simba down.I lost 2 cat in. the same day. It’s been almost 2 wk know sign of het.I miss her so. She been missing since July 22 2022.
It’s a terrible feeling. The investment of love, care, attention, and yes money too; We put so much into them and just like that, they can disappear from our lives.
Our cat has gone missing for 24 hours. It has happened in the past on a few occasions, but she always seems to find her way home. She does not like a collar but has been micro chipped. Not sure about bringing cats indoors at night. I think cats are semi nocturnal so need to go out to hunt/forage. Maybe when I arrive back home she will be sleeping on the bed not realising the stress she has caused.